Himalayan Blue Poppy

27.06.2023 - 08:37 / aberdeengardening.co.uk

The Himalayan blue poppy is simply ideal for the Scottish climate.

Most of us have garden plants which we are not so very fond of,  I have never heard anyone say that they didn’t like the blue poppy. 

I am not an expert on them, in fact I have only ever grown two varieties of the blue poppy.

The first one introduced to our garden about twenty five years ago was Meconopsis Betonicifolia.  The one which I am featuring today is Meconopsis x Sheldonii Lingholm.   This is the one that we most often grow, I do have a preference for the habit of Lingholm.

Betonicifolia and Lingholm are probably the two which you would be most likely to see in the garden centres.

Meconopsis prefer a semi shaded spot, this little group of  Sheldonii Lingholm I planted in our woodland garden last Autumn.

I have heard it said that it is advisable not to allow Meconopsis to flower in the first year. Apparently you should nip off the flower buds as they start to develop.  The idea is that you will end up with a stronger plant in following years by doing so.  I am afraid that I don’t quite follow this regime, I do pick off the seed pods as soon as the flowers go over and convince myself that this is all that would be required.

The colour of Meconopsis x Sheldonii Lingholm can only be described as outstanding.

This hybrid apparently appeared in a Cumbrian garden in the 1970s.

Blue Poppies are often said to be difficult to grow.  This is not exactly true, its more a case of your climate conditions.

If you happen to be in the very south of England then they may be tricky.  On the other hand here in Scotland they are so at home, simply plant them in a position which is semi shaded and the soil moderately rich, moist and free draining